House Bill 964

AN ACT TO CREATE THE TASK FORCE ON RECYCLING; TO PROVIDE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE DUTIES FOR THE TASK FORCE; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO MEET QUARTERLY; TO ASSIGN THE TASK FORCE TO THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY; TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Task Force on Recycling, which will be responsible for developing a comprehensive plan to establish a system to recycle household items. The task force will serve as a consensus group designed to coordinate efforts by the state, counties and municipalities to create an effective recycling system in the state.

(2) The task force shall consist of fourteen (14) members.

(a) Six (6) members shall be appointed by the Governor from each of the following industries:

(i) Plastic recycling;

(ii) Metal recycling;

(iii) Paper recycling;

(iv) Glass recycling;

(v) Household hazardous waste recycling; and

(vi) Solid waste disposal.

(b) In addition to the members appointed by the Governor, membership of the task force will include one (1) representative from each of the following agencies, associations or entities, as designated by each respective agency, association or entity:

(i) Mississippi Municipal League;

(ii) Mississippi Association of Supervisors;

(iii) Department of Corrections;

(iv) Department of Environmental Quality;

(v) Cooperative Extension Service, one who is a county home economist;

(vi) Sierra Club; and

(vii) Keep Mississippi Beautiful.

SECTION 2. (1) The Task Force on Recycling has the following duties:

(a) Undertake a statistical and qualitative examination of the benefits of recycling in Mississippi;

(b) Develop a comprehensive plan to recycle household items;

(c) Report to the Mississippi State Legislature by December 31, 2005, with a system to allow counties and municipalities to collect items to be recycled.

(2) The task force shall meet and conduct business at least quarterly. All meetings of the task force will be open to the public, with opportunities for public comment provided on a regular basis. Notice of all meetings shall be given as provided in the Open Meetings Act and appropriate notice also shall be given to all persons so requesting of the date, time and place of each meeting.

(3) (a) The task force is assigned to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for administrative purposes only, and the task force will have a line item in the budget of the Department of Environmental Quality and will be financed through the department's annual appropriation.

(b) Members of the task force may be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-39 and may be reimbursed in accordance with Section 25-3-41 for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.